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Shift work can increase a person's risk of developing Type 2 diabetes, a new study says.

Researchers looked at 12 international studies involving 226,500 participants, 14,600 of whom had diabetes. When they pooled the data, they found shift work was associated with a 9% increased risk of developing diabetes compared to working normal office hours.

Rotating shifts, in which people work different parts of the 24-hour cycle on a regular basis, rather than a fixed pattern, were associated with the highest risk (42%).

The risk was greater for men, the authors said.

The researchers said the reason for the increased risk is unknown, although it has been suggested lack of sleep or poor sleep quality may worsen insulin resistance.

They said those working shift work should keep an eye on their health and diabetes-related symptoms.

The British Medical Journal's Occupation and Environmental Medicine published the study online.